English Idioms and Sayings

[RonBee]

Q: What is "the tip of the iceberg"?

A: Evidence of things unseen. The tip of the iceberg is only a small part of it. Most of an iceberg is below the water.

[RonBee]

Q: What is a smoking gun?

A: Evidence. Especially, it is evidence--conclusive evidence--of a recently committed crime.

[RonBee]

Q: What does it mean to reject something out of hand?

A: To reject an idea out of hand is to reject it without even considering it.

[RonBee]

Q: What does it mean to "face the music"?

A: Come to terms with the situation. Especially, confront a difficult or unpleasant situation. Example:

• When his boss called him on the carpet he knew he was going to have to face the music.

Example:

• Charged with dereliction of duty, he had to go before the Board of Inquiry and face the music.

[RonBee]

Q: What is a "shrinking violet"?

A: A shy person.

[RonBee]

Q: What is a "hot potato"?

A: It's an issue nobody wants to touch.

[RonBee]

Q: What does it mean to be on the hot seat?

A: A person "on the hot seat" has to put up with the "heat" of tough questions.

[RonBee]

Re:

• I got hot under the collar and went for a walk to cool down.

Q: What does that sentence mean?

A: You got angry at somebody and went for a walk to give yourself time to cool down (let your anger subside).

[RonBee]

Q: What is a "straight face"?

A: A serious expression.

A little bit messy, but seems useful ( in fact, it is)
deserves to bump
and are those all always speaking?
I think that's why I couldn't understand what native especially young speakers say :P